GovernmenttosetupCyberSecurityAuthority

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communication has announced government intention to set up the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to deal with all matters related to cybercrime and security in the digital ecosystem.

According to her, the new Authority would have a direct reporting responsibility to the Office of the President with more secure sources of funding.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful announced this after Parliament had approved the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).

The Budapest Convention seeks to facilitate international cooperation arrangements to respond to existing and emerging cyber threats, through prevention, investigations, and prosecutions of cybercrimes.

According to the Minister for Communication, “The Cybercrime and cybersecurity Trends in Africa 2016” report, paints a sad picture of the state of cybersecurity in Africa.

Also, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) report categorizes West Africa as a fertile ground for cyber criminality.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful also announced that the building of a Cyber Security Centre would have technical equipment and training for personnel to have a proper overview of the country’s IT infrastructure in all critical national structure.

She urged various sectors to build a Computer Emergency Response Centre to link up with the National Emergency Respond Centre under the Cyber Security Centre so that they can identify and eliminate the cyber threat easily as well as share information in the various sectors.

She said the Ministry is working with the Bank of Ghana to develop cybersecurity guidelines for the banking sector and other sectors as well.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful also announced the government’s plan to introduce a new Cybersecurity Law to bring together various scattered legislations into one comprehensive regulation.

According to her, the law is intended to address all issues relating to cybersecurity including child online protection and cyber hygienic practices.

She said currently, the Ministry is working on the draft bill to harmonize the various legislations and to close the gap as a result of the approval of the Budapest Convention.